My wife’s iPhone 16 Pro is not turning on. Several times I have had to push the top volume, bottom volume and then hold the right power button until the Apple came on. And it took much longer than 10 seconds and instead of it coming on by itself, the Apple would show only after I held and released the power button. Did she get a lemon or are others having this problem? She gets a new phone every year so this is not an operator error.
iPhone 16 Pro
Bought two new iPhone 16 Plus. Did update to iOS 18.0.1. When one phone was turned off and charged overnight, it would not turn on this morning. So far I am trying the force restart multiple times and I have plugged it into a different charger no beeps. Also I plugged it into my MacBook and no beep and not showing up on Finder. This is bad. This has never happened with multiple iPhones over the last several years. Phone $1000 and it does not work after a few days. Ugh. Afraid to shut down the other phone and fear that it will also not be able to be turned down.
Yes, I updated it to 18.02 a couple of days ago, and this happened this morning. And nope, I don't turn it off to charge it. The phone had some bugs, I was hoping they fixed them over time, but was not expecting to just stop working at all. I'm contacting Apple tomorrow to see what they say.
Ugh - just happened to me. Battery was at 20%, plugged it in and turned it off to charge overnight and it would not turn on. Finally was able to force a restart and battery is at 100%. iPhone 16, about a month old. I won’t turn it off again but this is ridiculous. I am out of town and a bricked phone is not an option and scarily unsafe. Come on Apple!
I have made 3 reports to apple support about this. Today was the first time they said they could replace my device for $32.77 (Canadian) but had no assurance this wouldn’t happen again. Their direct response:
“There is no known issues with any model iPhones in regards to the issue you are experiencing. If this issue was to arise again then it would be escalated to a senior advisor via phone support and they will be to offer you further options.”
So I declined replacement since I don’t want to potentially pay the fee and get another defective device.
I strongly recommend anyone with this issue to download the Apple Support app/make a Genius Bar appointment and report the issue every time to Apple. The more people that report it, the more likely they may recognize it as a “known issue” and either fix it or replace your phone for free.
These forums are unofficial so it doesn’t help to just post here to complain.
I am on 18.2.1 for the record and it has happened before and after I updated it.
good luck!
Having same start-up problem with an ipro 16 plus just purchased this week (February 4). Never had a problem like this with previous iPhones. Happens when I have turned off the phone and charged it overnight. Clearly a serious bug that Apple should have fixed by now. Hello, Apple, are you reading this and listening?
I bought my iPhone 16 Pro Max 1TB in October 2024, and I am now on my third replacement due to the phone not turning back on. I tried force restart on numerous occasions, and it still did nothing. I then booked an appointment at the Apple store, and they replaced it on each occasion as they couldn't get the phone to work. I have had Apple phones for years, and I have never had an issue with any of the models until this one. I also have an Apple MacBook and an Apple Ipad which again i have had no issues with them
The Apple 16 Pro Max is the first iPhone not to be made in China: the manufacturing/production has been moved to India, which raises the question of whether this has caused this massive failure in the new iPhone.
The new iPhone 16 Pro Max i have had replaced has also gone blank so I will have to wait till i return home from holidays to take it to an Apple store in the UK.
Hi any advice on this,I’ve had my iPhone 16 pro max since oct and every now and then maybe once every 2weeks I switch it off at night so it’s 100% charged in morning,but I can’t switch the phone on it usually take me a hour or two by pressing volume up and down and then long press other button,surely this shouldn’t be happening all the time.anyone else having issues with 16 pro not turning back on
beachlivin wrote:
I had this exact problem. When I charge I NEVER turn it off. It is left on 24 hours a day.
And exactly what you should do. iOS devices are designed to be charged with power on, because the charge management system is software driven. And also because you can enable automatic nightly backup, Optimized Charging, and, not as obvious: When the phone is plugged in the background processes that always exist are powered from the charging source. If you charge with it powered off that means that virtually all of the functions of the iPhone are powered by the battery when you turn it back on, and none of those functions will be able to use line power, so charging with power off will shorten the useful life of your battery.
laure130 wrote:
I wish I’d never have gotten rid of my old phone. It worked perfectly. The iPhone 16 sucks. I never turn mine off anymore cause you can never turn it back on. What a shame. 😥
Well, maybe there is a hardware problem with your iPhone. I can turn mine on or off when I want to, and it always turns back on. I suggest you contact Apple Support:
Best way:
Other options:
(Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat)
outlyer6079 wrote:
While it’s true any computer/smartphone can crash at any given time, it’s very suspicious that it has happened to at least 1,400 people with the iPhone 16.
Do you realize that 1,400 is only 0.0037 of iPhone 16s sold in just the first weekend of sales? It seems a lot less 'suspicious" when you put it in context, doesn't it.
Also, just because ~1400 people tapped "Me Too" doesn't mean they all actually had the same problem.
outlyer6079 wrote:
Why is it so difficult to accept that there might be a problem with this generation of iPhone?
Perhaps because so very few people are having problems with it.
People here get so defensive and attack the buyer (who has paid hundreds to over a thousand dollars for this device and is justifiably worried when something like this happens for the first time and on top of that sees that so many other people are having the same issue with the same model). And just as we cannot be sure whether it has happened to the 1,400 people that have hit the ‘me too’ button, we do not know how many people out there have had this problem and haven’t shared it here.
I guess people are just looking for whatever reason to fight and belittle others on the internet, instead of focusing on how to fix problems and improve future products for consumers. Have a great day
No, people are looking for reasons to help you. But, if you keep insisting that the problem is the hardware based on no evidence at all, no one here in this user-to-user forum can help you.
Sometimes, it feels as if people are posting here not to ask for help but simply to get confirmation for the assumptions they have already made.
outlyer6079 wrote:
Sorry for not getting things right on my first attempt 100% of the time. While it’s true any computer/smartphone can crash at any given time, it’s very suspicious that it has happened to at least 1,400 people with the iPhone 16. I’m glad I got my phone back to life and really hope it doesn’t happen again. But if it does, it will surely only take me 9 attempts next time
Isn’t it also suspicious that it did not happen to 100 million iPhone 16 users, less the 1,400 people that you claim?
This Apple 16 pro not turning on is contageous. Only had them a few days and already my husband's wouldn't turn on till he forced it and now mine won't despite trying the 'force' system twice. I so regret changing up my iphone 14 which over 2 years only had this happen 2 or 3 times. If I ever get it working I will want to switch it off again tonight so how can I trust it to go back on tomorrow.
I've spent way too long trying to simply turn it on today. This is not acceptble apple - I want to return it.
I just had this same problem with my iPhone 16 pro. This is now the 2nd time I have had this problem with this phone. I have not installed update 18.3.1 yet, but it took me several tries of the volume up, volume down, and holding the power button for it to finally turn on. It also took longer than 10 seconds to hold down the power button. My phone was plugged in all night and was at 100%. I used to power my phone off every night, but now I am scared to do so...
Addressing Apple in this user-to-user forum won’t help anything. You need to contact Apple support. Do it for yourself, and also for others with the same problem so Apple can get an idea of how widespread this problem is.
Best way:
Other options:
(Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat)
See this --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
Make sure to hold the power button in the last step until you see the Apple Logo. It can take more than 15 seconds.
iPhone 16 Pro not turning on
